Thursday, May 23, 2013

Search recent news:

11/29/2012 - West Side Leader
     

By Kathleen Folkerth

Photos courtesy of Downtown Akron Partnership

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Kent artist Judith Gaiser created the button for First Night® Akron 2013, as shown at far right. Gaiser, pictured at near right, said she was influenced in her design by a visit to the Akron Civic Theatre last year and its Wurlitzer organ. She also recalled seeing a red fox at her fishpond and thought it was a good omen.

“I like to humanize critters in my drawings and give them personalities,” she said. “I tend to work quickly and expressively, and the composition continued to grow with the silent movie film theme.”

Gaiser is a retired high school art, drama and English teacher who conducts painting workshops and coaches high school students who are creating portfolios. She is a Cleveland native who credits her grandfather, a professional wood sculptor, for her artistic talents.

Gaiser’s work has been featured in shows at Summit Artspace and the Canton Museum of Art and in the Cleveland Museum of Art May Show. She has had solo shows at Kent State University, The Mather Gallery at Case Western Reserve University, St. Paul’s Gallery and Jack Richard Studios.

First Night Akron, a family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s Eve event, will take place in 10 venues in Downtown Akron Dec. 31. Buttons, which serve as admission to the event, are $10 and are on sale at Acme Fresh Markets, participating FirstMerit Bank branches, the Akron Beacon Journal Customer Service Desk, Angel Falls Coffee in Highland Square, Carolyn’s Cupboard in Wadsworth, Gasoline Alley in Bath, The Library Shop on Main, Lock 3, Stage Left Boutique at the Akron Civic Theatre and online at www.firstnightakron.org. On the evening of Dec. 31, admission buttons will only be available at Acme Fresh Markets until 8 p.m. and at Stage Left Boutique at the Akron Civic Theatre and The Library Shop on Main in Downtown Akron.

For additional information, go to the website or call 330-374-7690.

— By Kathleen Folkerth

     

• Musicians heading to summer stages
• Actors’ Summit brings new work to stage with ‘Manning Up’
• ‘Star Trek’s’ ‘Darkness’ fun, but time to explore new worlds
• West Side Cause for Celebration